"Documentation" and "Documentation"

The other day the undersigned had the privilege of sharing thoughts on "Industrial Security and Loss Prevention" with some senior security practitioners in a programme organised by a government security organization. The participants were all very experienced and receptive. During the course of the feedback discussion after the presentation, one of them asked, "Are we to do all these things and are not you talking to the management and telling them also on this?"

The question is typical of a security professional and is highly significant. It raises a basic issue. From my little experience in this field, I am prone to reach the conclusion that security practitioners quickly draw a line of divide between we (security professionals) and they (the management), without often realizing what has to be done by us (security professionals) and by us alone. I did make efforts to explain what we project to the management on security and loss prevention but then strongly urged upon those present that the basic work in this field lay with us (security professionals). Security professionals will have to understand and appreciate that preventing loss is now a basic security function. Sustained efforts are warranted to work out and demonstrate that security management could be cost-effective, can prevent losses and thus can discharge a profit-earning function. Many amongst us, it is humbly submitted, are very good in field operations and outdoor supervisory work but are not very friendly with a piece of paper and a pen. In order to prove that security can prevent loss and thus lead to adding of profit directly, one will have to meticulously build up database over a period of time. Such systematic documentation alone will provide the base and strength to prove what security has achieved and prevented and what would have resulted if security were not in position, etc. The Security Chief can then make bold to ask for time to make an appropriate presentation before the Board of Directors, where necessary. Such confidence will result only from hard desk work resorted to on a systematic basis and regularly. Facts speak and speak out loudly. One will have to only tune them and put them in order. "Documentation" and "Documentation" should perhaps be the mantra before the security practitioners crying hoarse for recognition of their merit, which many richly deserve.

D. C. Nath, IPS (Retd.)
Former Special Director, IB, MHA (Govt. of India),
Executive President & CEO, IISSM.